ma·neu·ver
mə-ˈnü-vər 
-ˈnyü-
1
a
: a military or naval movement
b
: an armed forces training exercise
especially
: an extended and large-scale training exercise involving military and naval units separately or in combination
—often used in plural
The army and navy conducted maneuvers as training for war.
2
: a procedure or method of working usually involving expert physical movement
acrobats performing dangerous maneuvers
3
a
: evasive movement or shift of tactics
permits no room for concession or maneuver—
Harry Schwartz
Harry Schwartz
b
: an intended and controlled variation from a straight and level flight path in the operation of an airplane
The aircraft performed such maneuvers as spins, loops, and inverted flights.
4
a
: an action taken to gain a tactical end
this maneuver almost cost him the nomination—H. L. Mencken
H. L. Mencken
b
: an adroit and clever management of affairs often using trickery and deception
plaintiffs' pretrial maneuvers may be fashioned more with an eye to deterrence or retaliation than to unearthing germane material—John Marshall
John Marshall
maneuvered; maneuvering
mə-ˈnü-və-riŋ
-ˈnyü-;
-ˈn(y)üv-riŋ
1
a
: to perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage
The regiment maneuvered for several days before it was ready to attack.
b
: to make a series of changes in direction and position for a specific purpose
Ships maneuvered into their docks.
2
: to use stratagems : scheme
maneuvered successfully to get him to ask her to the dance
1
: to cause to execute tactical movements
We maneuvered our troops to the south.
2
: to manage into or out of a position or condition : manipulate
maneuvered the cork out with his thumb—Kay Boyle
Kay Boyle3
a
: to guide with adroitness and design
maneuvered her guests until the talk at the table became general—Jean Statford
Jean Statford
b
: to bring about or secure as a result of skillful management
maneuvered out of the council the funds to renovate the library
Synonyms
Examples of maneuver in a Sentence
Noun
With a quick maneuver, she avoided an accident.
Through a series of legal maneuvers, the defense lawyer kept her client out of jail.
He led his troops in a well-planned maneuver.
To prepare for war, the army is performing maneuvers off the coast.
The army is on maneuvers.
Verb
She maneuvered her car into the tiny garage.
It took seven people to maneuver the tiger out of its cage.
We had a hard time maneuvering our furniture through the doorway.
The giant ships maneuvered into their docks.
The vehicle easily maneuvered through rocky terrain.
They held hands while maneuvering through the crowd.
The companies are maneuvering for position in the limited market.
Somehow, she always manages to maneuver herself out of difficult situations.
We maneuvered our troops to the south.
The opposing forces maneuvered quickly.
Recent Examples on the WebDaphné Richemond-Barak, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2024
But ExxonMobil, Chevron’s biggest rival, launched a legal maneuver to cut Hess out of its rights to the Stabroek Block, a hugely valuable oilfield off the coast of Guyana.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 28 May 2024
Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024
One large Velcro strap is adjustable and uncomplicated, allowing kids to maneuver independently (and feel like big kids).
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for maneuver 
Noun
Enemy encounters and ground maneuvers changed as a result.
—Daphné Richemond-Barak, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2024
But ExxonMobil, Chevron’s biggest rival, launched a legal maneuver to cut Hess out of its rights to the Stabroek Block, a hugely valuable oilfield off the coast of Guyana.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 28 May 2024
Verb
Additional launch dates were missed last month after a helium leak was found in the Starliner’s propulsion system, which maneuvers the capsule.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024
One large Velcro strap is adjustable and uncomplicated, allowing kids to maneuver independently (and feel like big kids).
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for maneuver
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'maneuver.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to maneuver
Dictionary Entries Near maneuver
Cite this Entry
“Maneuver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maneuver. Accessed 27 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maneuver
1 of 2 noun
ma·neu·ver
mə-ˈn(y)ü-vər
1
a
: a planned movement of troops or ships
b
: a training exercise by armed forces
2
: a clever or skillful move or action
avoided an accident by a quick maneuver
maneuver
2 of 2 verb
maneuvered; maneuvering
-ˈn(y)üv-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to move (as troops or ships) in a maneuver
2
: to perform a maneuver
3
: to manage skillfully
4
: to use trickery : scheme
Etymology
Noun
from French manœuvre "a military movement," from early French maneuvre "work done by hand," from Latin manuopera (same meaning), from earlier Latin manu operare "to perform manual labor," from manu, a form of manus "hand," and operare "to work" — related to manage, manual, manure, operate
Word Origin
Strange as it seems, we owe both maneuver and manure to the same French source. The medieval French verb manovrer, meaning "to work" or "to place with the hand," developed from manuoperare, literally, "to work by hand," in the spoken Latin of ancient Gaul. From meinourer, a variant of manovrer used in England, Middle English adopted maynouren or manouren, which had the senses "to take in hand, manage," and "to cultivate (land)." In the 1500s English derived from the latter sense the noun manure, "material that fertilizes land." In the 1700s English adopted maneuver from French manœuvrer (the descendant of medieval French manovrer) which in the intervening centuries had developed a new sense "to perform a movement in military tactics."
Medical Definition
maneuver
noun
ma·neu·ver
variants
or chiefly British manoeuvre
1
: a movement, procedure, or method performed to achieve a desired result and especially to restore a normal physiological state or to promote normal function
the simplest maneuver to actuate the normal eustachian tube is to swallow—H. G. Armstrong
see heimlich maneuver, valsalva maneuver
H. G. Armstrong2
: a manipulation to accomplish a change of position
specifically
: rotational or other movement applied to a fetus within the uterus to alter its position and facilitate delivery see scanzoni maneuver
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share